Pedal Peculiarities

WARNING:  This week’s blog is LOADED with pictures – as always, you can click on them to enlarge and get a better look!

   My topic choice was influenced by a couple of articles in last month’s issue of Cycle Sport Magazine. The first detailed some of the concept bikes at the recent Interbike trade show in Las Vegas. Bicycle manufacturers try to make an impression on consumer markets, and not necessarily toward World Tour team managers, whose bicycles are bound by UCI restrictions. While not all of their far-flung plans will be seen on products released to the general public, some of the ideas first sprung on concept bikes have become fairly commonplace. Tri-spoke wheels, disc brakes, oversized tires, and belt drives are fairly recent developments, but are now regular features in the catalogs of major bicycle manufacturers.

  The highlight of the show was BMC’s Impec concept bike (above), which features oversized carbon fiber tubes with compartments for storage. There would be plenty of space for a small pump, extra tube, tools or maybe even an extra energy bar or two. The asymmetric bicycle has a single front fork leg and rear stay, in addition to a fully-enclosed drive train to keep out dirt and moisture.

   The second article featured the innovative designs of time trial bikes during the 1990s. Italian Andrea Collinelli (above) rode the Pinarello Parigina to a gold medal victory in the 4000m individual pursuit at the 1996 Olympics. The bicycle was noted as the bike that perhaps “went too far” and led to UCI restrictions on bicycle shape. Riding positions such as Collinelli’s “Superman” stretch and Graham Obree’s tuck (below) were soon outlawed as well.

   An internet search resulted in some wonderful concept bikes, many of which use a seat-tubeless configuration similar to that of the Softride bicycle, which can occasionally be seen in elite triathlon races.

   Bradley Waugh’s Nulla, which means “nothing” in Italian, certainly emphasizes a minimalist design. The spokeless machine uses rollers, in combination with a direct-gear chain drive system that engages the teeth on the inside of the rear rim.

   Specialized’s Scott Robertson has come up with some interesting concepts, including the Black Widow, which incorporates disc wheels with sliding rollers instead of a traditional hub in front, magnetic rim on the rear. Suspension is provided by the front and rear sections of the frame, which pivot independently.

   Scott’s Viper has no rear hub, but a magnetically polarized rim that floats in suspension. The drive train is also based on magnetic principles – the super low friction involved means quick starts and high speed, plus minimal wear on moving parts!

   This unnamed bike from Scott’s “Venom” series incorporates the same features as the Viper, although it has a somewhat more traditional setup in frame shape and handlebar position. With less cowling and fender material, it also looks significantly lighter than the Viper.

   The Ktrax Ski Bike immediately makes me think “I want my two dollars” and of the famous downhill chase in the movie Better Off Dead. The company manufactures kits designed for adult- and child-sized mountain bike frames.

   Electrobike completely turns away from traditional frame geometry with its PiCycle, which basically only consists of a long, arcing top tube. The drive is electric-assisted, with the motor built into the front hub, eliminating any meshing complications with the “human powered” belt-drive rear wheel. The bike also features hydraulic disc brakes and the “PiFi” smartphone application that gives performance data, as well as remote diagnostics to alert the owner of needed maintenance.

   Modern bicycle manufacturing isn’t just a matter of steel, aluminum or carbon fiber frames. Although bamboo bicycles have been made since the late 1800’s, Calfee Design puts out a high quality selection of bamboo road and mountain bicycles.

   Italian craftsman Tino Sana makes incredible bicycles, built with pressed layers of beech and ash together with hardwood inlays, which improves the frame strength and durability. I find it interesting that Tino chose a futuristic “spoke” configuration, as well as a frame shape with no seat tube.

   I’ll leave you with a sample from Japanese ship builder Sueshiro Sano, who tried his hand at a different mode of transportation and built a collection of bicycles made of mahogany.